Sunday, July 30, 2017

Ok so some may think Glottal Fry is cool, and why for years did most men have it and no one noticed? And why are women intentionally using it now to promote Vocal Affect? Although this term has been used in the literature for many distinct reasons, the way I refer to it from a speech therapist’s point of view is that vocal fry for many is a way to sound cool, or to give one’s speech a distinct personality, like the car we drive or the clothes we wear. The way we speak can help identify us immediately to others since we all have vocal characteristics. The more that our speaking style or affect is different, the easier it is for others to identify us.

My concern with vocal fry relates to the abuse to the vocal cords that it may likely cause. Any time there is hoarseness or glottal fry, the vocal cords are being used in a dysfunctional manner.

Does that pay off for the particular speaker? Not as far as the health of the larynx or voice box is concerned. For over 30 years of working hand in hand with Otolaryngologists (Ear Nose and Throat Specialists) I was the one they sent patients to after vocal cord stripping were performed or excision of vocal polyps or nodules.

Vocal Fry Speech Therapist

Have you ever developed a callous on any one of your fingers from doing yard work, or any task with your hands they were not accustomed to? People who take up golf, tennis, or the weekend gardener surely develops the irritated area on a thumb or finger. And should that activity continue on a regular basis, a callous or a hardened surface soon replaces the irritated area. With time it becomes encrusted on the inside surfaces of the vocal cords, and the speaking voice becomes habitually hoarse or discordant.

There is always a price to pay for abusing any portion of the body. Glottal Fry is one of them. Are there healthier ways to develop Vocal or Speaking Affect? Assuredly!

Let me show you how.

Mark Ittleman, M.S., CCC/SLP is a Vocal Fry Speech Therapist who has been helping people speak with clarity for over 40 years. He has spent years in direct one on one speech therapy with those with brain injury, aphasia and children who have not developed speech and language normally. He has worked in nationally renowned rehabilitation hospitals and has developed specialized programs for those who lost their speech due to vocal fry. Those programs involve training family members, caregivers and speech language pathologists who are looking for new and vibrant approaches to help others improve speaking.

Ok so some may think Glottal Fry is cool, and why for years did most men have it and no one noticed? And why are women intentionally using it now to promote Vocal Affect? Although this term

My concern with vocal fry relates to the abuse to the vocal cords that it may likely cause. Any time there is hoarseness or glottal fry, the vocal cords are being used in a dysfunctional manner.

Does that pay off for the particular speaker? Not as far as the health of the larynx or voice box is concerned. For over 30 years of working hand in hand with Otolaryngologists (Ear Nose and Throat Specialists) I was the one they sent patients to after vocal cord stripping were performed or excision of vocal polyps or nodules.
has been used in the literature for many distinct reasons, the way I refer to it from a speech therapist’s point of view is that vocal fry for many is a way to sound cool, or to give one’s speech a distinct personality, like the car we drive or the clothes we wear. The way we speak can help identify us immediately to others since we all have vocal characteristics. The more that our speaking style or affect is different, the easier it is for others to identify us.

Vocal Fry Speech Therapist Mark Ittleman

Have you ever developed a callous on any one of your fingers from doing yard work, or any task with your hands they were not accustomed to? People who take up golf, tennis, or the weekend gardener surely develops the irritated area on a thumb or finger. And should that activity continue on a regular basis, a callous or a hardened surface soon replaces the irritated area. With time it becomes encrusted on the inside surfaces of the vocal cords, and the speaking voice becomes habitually hoarse or discordant.

There is always a price to pay for abusing any portion of the body. Glottal Fry is one of them. Are there healthier ways to develop Vocal or Speaking Affect? Assuredly!

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Apraxia Speech Therapy

Voice Speech Therapist Mark IttlemanMark Ittleman, M.S., CCC/SLP is a Voice Therapist and Speech Language Pathologistt who has been helping people with their speaking voice for over 40 years. He has spent years in direct one on one voice therapy with those with vocal cord difficulties, brain injury, aphasia and children who have not developed speech and language normally. He has worked in the offices of Ear Nose and Throat Specialists for over 20 years and has also provided voice care within nationally renowned rehabilitation hospitals. He has developed specialized therapy for those who have lost their voices (aphonia) or who have voice difficulties. Those programs involve training the patient, family members and speech professionals.